Ulta Beauty shares plummeted close to -30% Friday, after the company lowered its fiscal- full-year outlook and also missed earnings expectations.
The chain of stores selling cosmetics and hair & skincare products reported net income of $2.76 per share which, although higher than the year-ago quarter’s $2.46, fell short of the Street estimate of $2.80.
Revenue for the quarter increased +12% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, which was in line with expectations.
Comparable sales (which in this case includes stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased +6.2%. Last year same quarter, the growth was +6.5%.
But for the full-year, the company reduced its guidance citing headwinds in the U.S. cosmetics market. Ulta now expects EPS to range between $11.86 and $12.06 for the year, down from its prior projection of $12.83 to $13.03 range. The company indicated that the revision includes the effect of around $700 million in share buybacks and also the assumption of a 23% effective tax rate (versus 24% previously).
Ulta has predicted comparable sales growth of approximately +4% to +6%, down from previous estimates of +6% to +7%. The forecast includes e-commerce growth of +20% to +30%.
The company hopes to increase total sales by +9% to +12%, as compared to previous forecasts of low double-digit growth.
The company expressed plans to open around 80 new stores, remodel or relocate 20 others and do some touch-ups of about 270 stores.